Electric railroad-signal



i W. W. GARY. Electric Railroad Signal. No. 240,692'. Patented April 26,1881;

N. PEI'ERS. FNOTLHHOGRAPMERA WASHINGLON. D C.

` UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

WESLEY W. GARY, OE BOSTN, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC RAILROAD-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,692, dated April 26, 1.881.

Application filed February 6, 1880.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, WESLEY WARD GARY, of Boston, in the county ot' Suffolk and State ot' Massachusetts, have invented certain lmprovements in Electric Railroad-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

rlhe object of my invention is to produce an automatic electric signal to give warning of the approach ot' a railway-train; and to this end it consists in thepeculiar construction and arrangement of devices hereinafter described.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my apparatus arranged in connection with the railroadtrack. Fig. 2 represents a top-plan view ofthe generator or magneto-electric apparatus; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the same; Fig. 4, a top-plan View ofthe alarm 5 Fig. 5, a side elevation of the same.

A represents an ordinary railway-track; B, an electric conducting-wire extending along the side of the track; C, the bell-alarm connected with one end of the conductor B, and D the magneto-generator connected with the opposite endof the same.

The alarm is located at the side of the track upon an elevated post, or otherwise, and the conductor preferably arranged upon insulated support, while the generator is locatednear the track. The generator consists, as shown, of a iixed permanent magnet, c, and an armature provided with an insulated coil or helix, o, and arranged to vibrate to and from the end of the magnet, the helix forming a part or" the circuit through conductor B.

The armature is mounted on one end of a vibrating arm or lever, cl,secured to a rockshaft, e, which latter is extended beneath one ofthe rails of the track, and provided with an arm, f, extending in the opposite direction from arm d. The wheels of the train passing in succession over arm fdepress the same, and thereby rock the shaft e, thereby causing arm d to elevate the armature away from the magnet. After the passage of each wheel the magnet again descends by gravitykhefore the action of the next wheel upon the army. In this way the armature is given a rapid vibratory motion in relation to the magnet, inducing a series of strong electric currents or impulses through the circuit B. Thile the action oi' gravity is sufficient in ordinary cases to depress the armature, a spring, g, may be used in connection therewith, it' desired.

Passing, now, to the alarm C, it will be seen to consist of two permanent magnets, lt and t', having their opposite poles arranged facing each other, and an intermediate armature, k, provided with a helix, l, and sustained by a spring-arm, lm, so that it may vibrate rapidly between the two magnets. A branch or prolongation ot' the arm m carries a hammer or striker arranged to act upon a bell, n. The spring m is so arranged that it holds the armature normally in an intermediate position between the two magnets, freefrom contactitherewith. The electric currents or impulses transmitted through the circuit B serve to magnetize and demagnetize the armature lc and to change its polarity rapidly and frequently, the result of which is that Athe armature is caused to vibrate rapidly between the two magnets, so that the striker acts strongly and rapidly upon the bell, thus giving notice at one end of the line that anl approaching train has arrived at the opposite end.

I am aware that electric signals have been released by means of magneto-electric generators actuated by the wheels cfa passing train, the signal being designed to give warnin g to a train advancing behind another.

I am also aware that magneto-generators embracing the combination of a permanent magnet and a vibratory armature and helix are old,and I lay no claim thereto.

I do not claim, broadly, herein the combination of an electrically-driven bell and a niagneto-generator actuated by passing trains; nor do I claim herein a bell-alarm wherein an electro-magn et operating a striker is arranged to vibrate between two permanent magnets, as said features will be made the subject-matter of a separate application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In an organized alarm-signal for railroads, the combination of a bell-alarm consisting ot' two permanent magnets and an intermediate armature and helix with striker attached, the electric conductor extended from the alarm to an advanced point by the track, and a magneto-generator located at the last-named point and consisting of a fixed magnet, a gravitat- IOO ing-armature and helix attached to a rockshaft having an arm arranged to be depressed by the Wheels ofthe passing train.

2. In combination with the magnets la and i and the intermediate electro magnet with striker attached, the generator consisting of the permanent magnet, the electro-magnet b o, and the arm j', arranged to be operated by the wheels of the passing train.

3. In an automatic railroad-signal, the combination of a signaling-instrument embracing two permanent magnets and an intermediate vibratory electro-magnet, an electric cond uctor extending thence to a distant point at the side of a railway-track to amagneto-generator embracing an electro-magnet, and a permanent magnet and mechanism, substantially such as shown, for vibratin g one of said members with relation to the other under the action of each 4 of the passing car-wheels.

4. In an automatic railway-signal, the combination of a vibratory magnetogenerator, such as described and shown, means whereby "each car-wheel is caused to impart a move- WESLEY WARD GARY.

XfVitnesses:

P. T. DODGE, WILLIAM W. DoDGn. 

